Music Dean Toni-Marie Montgomery invited faculty members and students to an open forum in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Monday night where she assured students the School of Music will make sure the jazz studies program will continue to thrive despite the departure of its director.

Don Owens, director of Northwestern’s jazz studies program in the School of Music, will retire this year after 26 years of service.

For some Music students, this decision adds uncertainty to the future of jazz studies — a program already being criticized by some for lack of organization.

“There is an overall mood of uncertainty around the jazz program in terms of what we’re going to get from the administration,” said Music junior Matt Martin.”We don’t want the program to die off.”

Owens, who has been in charge of the jazz program since 1979, announced his retirement in January. He said he decided to retire after Music administrators refused to grant him phase retirement — the transition from working full-time to part-time. His future plans include composing music, guest conducting and holding clinics, he said.

“I just want to move on to another chapter in my life, that’s all,” said Owen, who declined to comment on why his phase retirement was not granted.

More than 40 music students attended the event. Many students said they were worried about Owen’s retirement and the program’s weaknesses, and they asked administrators to show more commitment to jazz education at NU. They cited miscommunication between students and administrators, limited curriculum in jazz-related courses and a scarcity of proper jazz instructors as symptoms of instability.

The jazz studies program is made up of six faculty members. There are two graduate students and 14 undergraduates officially enrolled in the program. More than 50 other students — both inside and outside the School of Music — also take advantage of the jazz bands and programs offered, Owens said.

The music school has encountered difficulty replacing former senior jazz studies lecturer Mike Kocour, who was known for his talent with numerous instruments. Kocour left NU to teach at Arizona State University last year.

Instead of hiring another professor who specialized in many instruments, the school hired three faculty members specializing in specific jazz instruments.

The School of Music has yet to find replacements for jazz saxophone, jazz guitar and jazz base, Owens said.

Music sophomore Richard Winkelmann, who plays jazz bass, said he has to pay $1,000 for private lessons outside the School of Music because it does not have a faculty member who specializes in jazz bass.

“As far as … actually being able to play (the jazz bass) and getting the message across, it’s totally preferable to learn from someone who plays your instrument,” Winkelmann said.

Students also criticized the School of Music’s classical music audition, which is required before students can be accepted into the school. Some students said the requirement sometimes means that talented jazz musicians who could benefit the jazz program are rejected.

“Passing a classical audition has no application for someone planning to study jazz,” Martin said. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Since Owens announced his plans to retire halfway through the school year, the School of Music could not find a replacement in time for the next fall, Montgomery said.

Dan Farris, a senior jazz lecturer and director of athletic bands, will become the interim director of the jazz studies program next year.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and working with the students to make music,” Farris said.

Montgomery said she plans to invite consultants to lead a national search to find a new director of jazz studies by Fall 2007. She also said the School of Music will hire a new lecturer to teach the jazz writing classes Owens used to teach.

Although she did not promise to hire additional jazz instructors for specific instruments, Montgomery said she added three jazz faculty members since she became dean in 2003.

She also said a monetary gift from Robert Ravenscroft, Music ’64, will solely benefit the jazz studies program.

“We look forward to strengthening the jazz program and redefining the role of jazz in the School of Music,” she said. “Jazz is the only type of music that we can play that’s really American. It is an important component to the education that we provide for music students.”

Reach Allan Madrid at [email protected].